Hey folks!
OK - with summer fast approaching I need to nail down the details for the South Eastern Laser Enthusiast's Meeting for 2007. Right now the working date for the event is the last weekend in July, which would be Saturday, July 28th and Sunday, July 29th. (If there are *lots* of conflicts, we can talk about changing that date - it's not carved in stone just yet - but for now there is another issue I'd like to discuss...)
I'm faced with a choice of two possible locations for this summer's gethering, and I'd like to hear your input on each one:
Choice # 1 is a private residence located in central North Carolina. It's within an hour's drive of the Charlotte International Airport. The location is less than 5 miles from a major Interstate highway, and there are numerous hotels and motels available in the area. The residence is situated on a large lot (several acres) that is surrounded by trees. There is a large barn/shed in back that would be used for indoor laser shows. I don't have the exact dimentions, but it's slightly bigger than choice # 2 below. Larger projectors and lasers could also be set up outside, provided that prior arrangements were made to ensure we have a generator present to provide power. (We will have roughly 100 amps of 220 single phase to play with inside.) About the only downside is the lack of air conditioning inside the large shed. (Remember, we're talking the end of July here.)
Choice # 2 is a private meeting building located in downtown Orlando, Florida. This meeting room is less than 20 minutes drive from the Orlando International Airport. It is less than 2 miles from I-4, and there are plenty of hotels in the area, though they are probably quite a bit more expensive than the ones in North Carolina. The meeting room is about 25 feet wide by 65 feet long. (It's the location we used for FLEM back in January.) There is 110V power available, and we can probably use the stove outlet in the kitchen to pull 40 to 50 amps of single phase 220v power if we need it. But large frame ion lasers are out of the question here.
So, given the pros and cons of each location, what do you guys think? Which location would work better for you, and why?
I need to make a decision in the next couple weeks, so if you're thinking about attending SELEM this summer (especially if you're planning to bring equipment), please voice your opinions now.
Adam